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KMID : 0358120020280040398
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Journal of the Korean Public Health Association
2002 Volume.28 No. 4 p.398 ~ p.417
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A Study on the Comparison of the Patterns of Mobile Phone Usage Amongst Middle School and High Schools Students.
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Choi Byoung-Mohk
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Abstract
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The focus of this research is on the actual usage of mobile phones among middle and high school students (Youths). The content of this research includes the usage period of mobile phones, the monthly average charge for calls, and information of charging methods and charge bearers. Disputes involving pay, degree of concern towards pay, expenditure of the usage of mobile phones and calls, number of inputted telephone numbers, text messages, reasons of mobile phone usage, and mobile phone etiquette are also included in the research. The goal of this research is to teach teenagers of productive methods of using mobile phones, such as to positively affect their studies and relationships. This research will help prevent and help students overcome mobile phone addictions. The research was found through questionnaires and in depth interviews. The results of this research conclude that there is a tendency for teenagers to use their mobile phones for more trivial purposes than the important matters, compared to the reasons adults uses their phones. What seems trivial to adults are at times important issues to teenagers. To teenagers the mobile phone is a means of communication to express them selves effectively. It is also a way to escape the boredom of everyday life and keep in perpetual contact with close friends. In addition, because of a lack of recreation for teenagers, the mobile phone has become a type a toy that is always available. The average monthly payment for the use of mobile phones is higher for middle school students than it is for high school students. It is therefore concluded that middle school students use their mobile phones more than high school students. As predicted, the percentage of calls made and received by the same and other sex friends is the same. However, the percentage of calls received exceeds that of the calls made to parents. The fast reason students use mobile phones are to find out what their friends are doing. The second reason is to search for information on-line when bored, and the third reason is to download pictures of animation characters, unique ringing sounds, and pictures of celebrities. Among 80 percent of the students answered that they had not received any education about mobile phone etiquette. Education through media would be appropriate. Most students fast own a mobile phone between their fast year of middle school and their first year of high school. At an average one teenager talks on his/her mobile phone for about 6.2 seconds per call to about 13.9 same sex friends. On the other hand, he/she will talk for about 7.6 seconds per call to about 6.2 other sex friends. Although teenagers have more same sex friends, they spend more time talking with their other sex friends. Also, teenagers make about 3-4 calls a day while they send about 20 text messages daily. The reliance level on text messages is significantly high. The more attached teenagers are to their mobile phones the more they are likely to use wireless Internet services. Listed in order of popularity, downloading different ringing sounds and animation characters, checking email, playing wireless Internet games, and chatting are some of the services students use. However, overall, the use of wireless Internet services is not high. Most students can punch about 86.9 text keys per minute The more a student relies on his/her mobile phone, the more he/she is likely to send number messages (messages sent solely in numbers that carry certain meanings). In regard to the in depth interviews, the usage of mobile phones among middle school students, overall has little potential of becoming a social problem In comparing the usage of mobile phones between students who are well adjusted to school life and those who are not, students who had trouble adjusting, normally had to nag their parents for a mobile phone. On the other hand, students who had little trouble adjusting were given mobile phones from their parents. Their parents bought them mobile phones to keep in contact with and know the whereabouts of their children. According to the results of the in depth interviews, students who had trouble adjusting at school felt they had strong friendships in part because of their mobile phones. On the other hand, students who adjusted well at school relatively used their mobile phones to keep in contact with family members. They also used their phones to express themselves more freely through text messages to close friends and relatives. Their usage of mobile phones is more appropriate. Of the interviewed students who did not own mobile phones, most were expecting to buy a mobile phone soon. In the meantime, they admit they use their friend’s mobile phones, almost to the extent that they share then.
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KEYWORD
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cellular phone usage, mobile phone etiquette, text messages, mobile phone addictions, means of communication, trouble adjusting.
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FullTexts / Linksout information
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Listed journal information
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